Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Updated lamb photos - PHOTO HEAVY!

After 3 inches of rain fell, I decided it was a great time to get some photos of the lambs with their lock structure a bit more apparent.

WhitePine Barnabas (Heights Orion x FirthofFifth Booto F1 Timothy). He will more than likely be getting a group of girls this fall, pending microns of course. AbAa, BbBb, SSSS, MMMm. 76% UK.WhitePine Ephraim - mioget. (Heights Orion x FirthofFifth Evidence of Autumn). Full brother to FirthofFifth Aman that Bill Stearman has now. He will more than likely also be getting a breeding group this fall.This is Ephraim's twin sister Eve. Both are 62.5 % UK. It looks as though both will be mioget. Both are BbBb, SSS?, MmMm, AaAa.Eve walkingEve walking again...Below is Justalit'l Black Lambo (Bramble Dixen daughter) and her twin moorit lambs (ram and ewe) out of Heights Orion. Both are beautiful single coated sheep. Her ram lamb will more than likely be for sale.Sheltering Pines Fleur de Lis with her black ewe lamb WhitePine Festus out of Wintertime Jazz. She has a powerhouse of a build and I'm waiting to see how her fleece will be. It looks to be long single coat at this point.WhitePine Faith walking away from me (Wintertime Jazz x Miwawe Flopsy) She carries moorit and is built beautifully.Here is Faith from the front.Her is Underhill Peep (F2 Greyling/F2 Jamie) and one of her sons out of Heights Orion. He is looking to stay moorit (maybe a dark fawn) with nice horns and build. He is 75% UK and will more than likely be staying here.

Another shot of the pair. I couldn't get him to raise his head up!WhitePine Lot (Wintertime Jazz x Bono Creek Lavender Brown) has been sold to a great lady in Florida. He will making the trip back with several ewes this September. He is the bluest fleeced katmoget I've had to date and is super crimpy. Very single coated!

Winter Sky Layla (F1 Orion) and her gray katmoget ewe lamb out of Wintertime Jazz. She is 76% UK and very soft, even and single coated. In the background you can see a dark gray katmoget ram lamb and a fawn katmoget ewe lamb. They are twins out of Justalit'l Chloe and Greenholme Holly. The ram is WhitePine Caihpas who will more than likely have a breeding group this fall and his sister is WhitePine Candace. They are 65.5% UK.Another shot of Lydia.And again...These boys below are with their mother in the background (Underhill Ulla). Their sire is Shirehill Minder. The musket on the left is also smirslet (almost yuglet) sokket with a white tail. the ram on the right is a fawn katmoget that I think is light badgerface as I'm losing the pattern on him and he cannot be Ag as his sire was AgAb and the lamb either had to be AgAa or AbAa as their mother is in the photo and is AaAa. I haven't decided if either one will be for sale yet. Micron tests will tell the story.

The next two photos are of WhitePine Skor's ram lamb. She is shaela and he looks as though he will be shaela as well. His sire is FirthofFifth Barish so this ram lamb is an F2 Timothy and looks to be a scurred boy.This handsome man will be available for sale.And look whose back! Minwawe Sea Breeze is back and this time with a ewe lamb! The lamb is named Ivy and is out of Wintertime Jazz. She is a smirslet sokket with a white tail ewe lamb. I may keep her or I am wililng to sell the pair together.

Who we are

Ramsay Farms is situated in the northeastern part of Ottertail County, near Perham, Minnesota. This family farm of 320 acres has been in the Ramsay family for five generations, dating back to 1892. Today our farm prides itself on our Simmental cattle, Shetland Sheep and BlueFaced Leicester sheep. We strive to breed animals that closest match the breed standards given to them, and mindful of production, health and longevity in our animals as well.

In spring of 2016, there was a purchase of 32 acres in Green County, Wisconsin to accommodate Garrett for his work in that region. The animals have for the most part been moved to that location. Both locations will work in tandem to continue educating and promoting these animals and this way of life.

Tradtional 1927 Standard Shetland wool

Shetland Sheep Links

2015 pair

WhitePine Foley and daughter Frygg

From the Shetland Sheep Society

"Shetland sheep have for generations been noted for their very soft and well crimped fleece. The wool is the finest of all native breeds and shows an amazing variety of colours and patterns. There are 11 main whole colours and 30 recognised markings.

By selecting from coloured fleeces a range of naturally coloured yarn can be produced. This eliminates the need for dyeing and therefore retains the soft feel of the natural fibre and is favoured by those who prefer a totally natural approach.

Shetland wool fibres are of a simple construction witha central cortex covered by a thin scaly cuticle, and have an average diameter of about 23 microns. However there is a range from 10-20 microns for neck and shoulder wool to 25to 35 microns for britch wool. the average staple length is 3.5 inches. The amount of crimp varies, and is most important in providing the 'bounce' required for knitwear. There is a positive correlation between fineness and crimp, with wool of the finest quality being crimped at between 8 and 12 to the inch. Wool from shetland sheep is used to produce gossamer lace, the famous 'Fair Isle' knitwear, and fine tweeds. Pure bred Shetland sheep tend to shed their fleece in sprin. The growth of new fleece can cause a rise or weak point and where this is present the fleece can sometimes be plucked or 'rooed' by hand. The timing of this can be different in each sheep, however, it is worth taking the care to get it right as rooed fleece can be amongst the softest because the fibres have no harsh cut ends as occurs with a sheared fleece.

Shetland fleece can be handspun straight from the fleece or made into rolags and then woollen spun. It can also be sorsted spun by hand, used on a peg loom or handwoven. It also felts well using either dry or wet methods. When processed commercially the wool can be made into the finest lightweight worsted cloth or heavier weight, harder wearing fabrics and tweeds."

BlueFace Leicester

a beautiful typey ewe

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. - Dennis Wholey